Golfing aid



Jan. 11, 1966 c, J HULL 3,228,696

GOLFING AID Filed July 2'7, 1961 United States Patent 3,228,696 GOLFINGAID Charles .1. Hull, 438 E. Baltimore, Greencastle, Pa. Filed July 27,1961, Ser. No. 127,263 10 Claims. (Cl. 273-183) The present inventionrelates to golfing aids in general and in particular to a sightingdevice to be worn by a golfer to aid in keeping the head motionlessduring the swing and thereby improving the score.

It is well known among golfers that it is of prime importance that thegolfer keep his head as nearly motionless as possible and his eyesfocused on the golf ball during the entire swing in driving the ball.The chin should point toward the ball and the head should not move up ordown or side to side. Should the head move during the swing it is likelythat the driven ball will curve inwardly in a hook or outwardly in aslice. In addition, the back swing should be controlled to prevent anexcessive back swing which would pull the eyes off the ball. Also duringthe swing, the body should pivot with the spinal column as an axis.

It is also well known that it is frequently diflicult to concentrate onthe golf ball during the stance in addressing the ball and during theswing, especially when the golfer is under the stress of pressures fromcompetition. It is an object of the present invention to provide asighting means for a golfer to aid in keeping his head steady to preventmovement during the back swing.

It is also an object to provide a sighting means to aid in keeping thehead at the correct position for the chin to clear the shoulder duringthe back swing.

It is a further object to provide a sighting means to aid in preventingexcessive back swing in driving the ball.

It is another object to provide a sighting means to aid a golfer inpivoting his body about the spinal column as an axis during the swing.

It is still another object to provide an optical golfers sighting aidwhich is adjustable to accommodate golfers of various physicalproportions.

It is an additional object to provide an optical sighting device of theclass described for golfers to be worn in conjunction with ordinary eyeglasses.

It is also an object to provide a sighting device which will aid agolfer in attaining and maintaining good ball concentration especiallywhen under the pressures and stresses of competition.

It is further an object to provide a sighting device which once adjustedfor wood shots will not have to be re-adjusted for subsequent ironshots.

For complete understanding of the present invention, reference may bemade to the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a rear view of the present invention in one of itscontemplated forms;

FIGURE 2 is atop view of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a rear view of the adjustable bridge used with the glassesof FIGURES l and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a rear view of one of the lenses for use with thecombination of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a rear view of the present invention used in connection witha pair of clip-on sunglasses;

FIGURE 6 is a top view of the glasses of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged section view taken on line 7-7 of FIGURE 5.

Referring to FIGURE 1 there is shown a pair of glasses generallyindicated at 10 which comprises a pair of lenses 11 and 12, preferablyof plastic, a bridge number 13, and a pair of temple members 14 and 15.The temple 14 is pivoted to a fitting 16 which is attached, as byPatented Jan. 11, 1956 riveting, to the lens 11 and the temple 15 ispivoted to a fitting 17 which is likewise attached to the lens 12. Eachof the two lenses 11 and 12 has, respectively, a bridge portion 18 and19 each of which has, respectively, an arcuate slot 20 and 21therethrough. Each of the two bridge portions 18 and 19 are reduced inthickness to a point defined by boundary lines 22 and 23 respectivelyand shown best by FIGURE 2.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the adjustable bridge 13 is provided with avertical slot 24 and a pair of nose pads 25 and 26. A bolt 27,preferably having a rounded head as illustrated, passes through the slot24 of the bridge 13, the slot 20 of lens 11 and slot 21 of lens 12 tothereby provide a common joining means to join all three of the partstogether as shown in the FIGURES 1 and 2. A thumb nut 28 on the bolt 27is provided to frictionally lock the two lenses and the bridge togetherwhen tightened afterthe parts have been adjusted to the requiredselected positions.

A target sight 29 is provided on the lens 11 and a similar target sight30 is provided on the lens 12. These sights are preferably circular,although they may be of other shape, and should be dark and opaque. Thesights may be placed on the lenses in any suitable manner such as bypainting, engraving or decals. When plastic is used for the lenses, thesights may be etched into the surface of the plastic and then the etchedsurface may be filled with flat black ink or paint. I have discoveredthat the optimum size of the sights when positioned, as in the case ofcorrective eyeglass lenses, between about 9 millimeters (approx. inch)and about 14 millimeters (approx. inch) from the eyes, should be suchthat the inner diameter is not less than about 7 millimeters (approx.inch) while the band width or thickness of the ring is not less thanabout 1.5 millimeters (approx.

inch) nor greater than about 2.0 millimeters (approx. inch). When usingthe sights to sight a golf ball, it will be found that the two sights,if properly adjusted, will blend to appear as a single, hazy, circularshadow encircling the ball. If the sights be smaller than the abovedimension, the circular shadow will be too small and it will be foundextremely difiicult to keep the golf ball centered within the shadow. Onthe other hand, if the sights be larger than the above dimensions theshadow will appear much too large, and it will likewise be difficult tohold the ball centered. Should the width of the bands forming thecircular sights be less than the of an inch measurement, the resultingshadow will be extremely difiicult to distinguish and if wider than theinch dimension the shadow will appear too dark and will tend to obstructvision. The ideal sights will provide the golfer with what appears as acircular shadow on the ground of about 15 inches in diameter which isjust dark enough to be readily noticed when both eyes are focused on theball.

Although the glasses of FIGURES 1 and 2 are illustrated as being clear,they may be in the form of sunglasses. When sunglasses are used as ameans for supporting the sights and positioning them before the eyes ofa golfer, the tint of the lenses should preferably be graded from thetop to the bottom with the darkest tint at the top and graduallydiminishing until the lens becomes clear in ,the area of the sight, asshown by the stip ling of Figure 4.

When the sights are placed on the lenses they are preferably positionedwith the center of each sight approximately of an inch below the centerof the lens. Also the centers of the sights are spaced about 2 /2 inchesapart when they are adjusted to the centered or medial position.

In using the glasses of FIGURE 1 the golfer, after teeing the ball andassuming the proper stance, closes one eye and adjusts the lens in frontof the open eye until the golf ball appears centered in the sight. Hethen closes the open eye and, while holding the head as motionless aspossible, adjusts the other lens while looking at the golf ball with theother eye until the ball appears to be centered in the sight with thateye. After adjusting the sights by moving the lenses inwardly oroutwardly as necessary or moving the bridge member upwardly ordownwardly as may be required, the sight should appear as a singleshadow around the golf ball when both eyes are open and focused on theball.

Another means for supporting the target sights is shown in FIGURES 5, 6,and 7 in the form of clip-on sunglasses of the type used by those whowear prescription glasses. An example of such sunglasses is described inUS. Patent No. 2,737,848 wherein a pair of plastic lenses 31 and 32 issupported by a frame mentber 33 also made of plastic. A pair of fingers34, 3-5 extending downwardly from a finger grip member 36 pivoted on theframe 33, are adapted to engage the spectacles being worn. A flat spring37 engaging the member 36 bears against the surface 38 of the frame 33and urges the two fingers 34, 35 toward the lenses. A pair ofsubstantially flat, thin shoulder members 39 and 40 extend outwardly andrearwardly at right angles to the frame 33 and are adapted to engage theupper edge of the prescription lenses, if the spectacles be of therimless variety, or the upper edge of the lense frame if of the framesupported type.

In order to adapt the clip-on sunglasses to the present invention, Ihave modified them by providing for vertical adjustment of thesunglasses by adding set screws 41 and 42 which engage, respectively,threaded openings through the two shoulder members 39 and 40. The flatheads 43 and 44 of the screws 41 and 42 bear against the spectacles (notshown) and the vertical position of the clip-on glasses with respect tothe spectacles may be adjusted by turning the set screws one way or theother as necessary.

In the arrangement shown in FIGURE 5 the target sights are in the formof flat, substantially thin, flexible plastic rings, one of which isshown at 45 in its uppermost adjusted position on the lens 31. The ringsight 45 is provided with a circular, tapered stud or boss 46 formedintegral therewith which is adapted to be inserted in an opening 47through the plastic lens 31 shown best in the enlarged section view ofFIGURE 7. The dimensions of the opening 47 and the stud 46 should besuch as to provide sufficient friction therebetween to support the sightwhen the stud is pressed into the opening. If the ring sight be of theproper thickness and preferred flexibility, it will flex or bend toconform to the curvature of the lens as shown in FIGURE 7. The sight 45may be adjusted to any of a plurality of positions on the lens 3 1, thelowermost as well as the two extreme horizontal positions beingillustrated in broken lines in FIGURE 5 in addition to the uppermostposition. Since it is possible that the sights may he accidentallyshifted from the adjusted positions between golf games or since the twosights may be removed from the lenses in order that the clip-on glassesmay be used as ordinary sunglasses for other purposes, it is preferablethat some means he provided whereby the sights may be readily replacedin their exact, or very nearly exact, adjusted positions. To this end Ihave provided radial, equally spaced indicia about the openings 47 and48 in the form of substantially short, very faint lines 49 on thesurface of the lens 31 and lines 50 on the lens 32. Also, 'each of thesights is provided with a very small pointer, one of which is shown at51 on the outer edge of the sight 4-5 opposite the location of the stud46. Once the golfer has adjusted the two sights to suit his eyes he hasonly to note the position of the pointer on each sight with respect tothe nearest indicium and set the sights to these positions each time hewishes to use them. It should be pointed out that the indicia on thelenses should be very fine and just barely discernible in which casethey will not be noticeable or bothersome when the sunglasses are beingworn for purposes other than as support for the target sights. It shouldalso be pointed out that the sights shown in connection with the clip-onglasses of FIGURE 5 may also be used with the glasses of FIG- URE 1 aswell as with other styles. When used with the glasses of FIGURE 1 it maynot be necessary to provide the slot, bolt and nut adjusting meansillustrated although such adjusting means in combination with theadjustable ring sight will provide a much wider range of adjustment toaccommodate a wide range of anatomy variations in golfers. Likewise, theadjusting screw arrangement for vertical adjustment in the clip-onglasses of FIGURE 5 are not strictly necessary but will be found to givea more desirable range of adjustment. Since some golfers keep the headturned slightly when addressing .the ball, the adjustable sights allowsuch golfers to adjust these sights for sighting on the teed ball withthe head in the slightly turned position.

While the invention has been shown and described in two of its preferredarrangements, it is to be understood that it may be used in otherarrangements without departing from the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims. For example the invention, though not in its preferred form, mayin one of its simplest forms be constructed of substantially soft,deformable wire to support a pair of ring sights about 2 /2 inchesapart. The wire support frame may be formed between the sights into abridge to engage the nose of the wearer and a pair of wire or plastictemple members, either pivoted on or fixed to the frame, may be providedto engage the ears of the wearer. Adjustment of the sights may beaccomplished by bending or deforming the wire frame as necessary.

It should also be pointed out that it may be desirable in certain cases,as for example when the lenses 11, 12 are made of glass or very thinplastic and therefore subject to possible damage, to support the lensesin suitable frames constructed from metal, plastic, or other suitablematerial.

It will be seen, therefore, that the wire support frame provides asupport means for supporting the sights which is equivalent to thelenses shown in the drawing while the bridge in conjunction with the twotemple members provide positioning means for positioning the sightsbefore the eyes of a golfer in the same manner as the bridge and templemembers illustrated. Also, the deformable wire bridge and temple membersprovide not only such positioning function but adjusting means, bybending or twisting, to adjust the position of the two sights withrespect to the eyes of the wearer in the same manner that the connector27, joining the two lenses 11 and 12 and the bridge member 13 together,allows all three to be moved with respect to each other for adjustingthe position of the two sights.

I claim:

'1. A golfing aid to be worn by a golfer to assist in keeping the headmotionless during the swing comprising a pair of lenses, means forpositioning said lenses before the eyes of said golfer, an opening ineach of said lenses, a ring target sight on each of said lenses, meanspositioning said sights in any of a plurality of adjusted positions,said positioning means comprising a pivot pin on each of said sightsengaging said openings, the dimensions of said openings and said pinsbeing such that a snug fit is provided there'between whereby tofrictionally hold said sights in any of a plurality of selected adjustedpositions contiguous to said lenses.

'2. A golfing aid to be worn by a golfer to assist in keeping the headmotionless during the swing comprising a pair of sunglasses, the saidglasses being formed from a single piece of plastic, a pair of templemembers pivoted on said glasses, an opening in each lens below the levelof the eyes of the wearer, a ring target sight on each of said lenses,means positioning said sights in any of a plurality of adjustedpositions, said positioning means cornprising a pivot stud on each ofsaid sights tfrictionally engaging said openings, the said frictionalengagement being sufliciently snug as to hold said sights in any of aplurality of adjusted positions.

3. A golfing aid to be Worn by a golfer to assist in keeping the headmotionless during the swing comp-rising a pair of lenses, means forpositioning said lenses before the eyes of said golfer, an opening ineach of said lenses below the eye level of said golfer, a target sighton each of said lenses, means positioning said sights in any of aplurality of adjusted positions, said positioning means comprising apivot stud on each of said sights frictionally engaging said openings,the said frictional engagement being sufficiently snug as to hold saidsights in any of a plurality of adjusted positions and indiciaassociated with said lenses and said sights to indicate the adjustedpositions thereof.

4. A golfing aid to be Worn by a golfer to assist in keeping the headmotionless during the swing comprising a pair of clip-on sunglasseshaving a pair of lenses for use with prescription spectacles worn bysaid golfer, adjusting means for adjusting said sunglasses verticallywhen positioned on said spectacles, a target sight on each lens of saidsunglasses and means for adjusting the position of said sights withrespect to said lenses.

5. A golfing aid to be worn by a golfer to assist in keeping the headmotionless during the swing comprising a pair of ring target sightsthrough which a golfer may look to sight a golf ball to be driven, meansfor positioning said rings before the eyes of said golfer at a distancefrom the eyes of between about 9 and 14 millimeters, the band width ofsaid rings being between about 1.5 and 2.0 millimeters and the innerdiameter of said rings being between about 7 and 9 millimeters, andmeans for adjusting the position of said rings with respect to the eyesof said golfer.

6. A golfing aid as set forth in claim 5 wherein said positioning meanscomprises a pair of spectacles, the lenses of which support the saidrings.

7. A golfing aid as set forth in claim 5 wherein said positioning meanscomprises a pair of spectacles having a pair of lenses and a bridgemember, the said rings being positioned on said lenses.

8. A golfing aid as set forth in claim 7 wherein the said adjustingmeans comprises means for adjusting the positions of said lenses andsaid bridge member each with the other and means for locking said lensesand said bridge member together in any of a plurality of adjustedpositions.

9. A golfing aid as set forth in claim 5 wherein said positioning meanscomprises a pair of lenses each of which supports one of said ringsthereon, a temple member pivoted on each of said lenses, a bridgemember, and means joining each of said lenses and said bridge membertogether.

10. A golfing aid as set forth in claim 5 wherein said positioning meanscomprises a pair of lenses each of which supports one of said ringsthereon, a frame member supporting each of said lenses, a temple memberpivoted on each of said frame members, a bridge member, and meansjoining each of said frame members and said bridge member together.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,135,921 4/1915Ramsay 214.6 1,283,815 11/1918 Lamphier 2-14.12X 1,353,759 9/1920 Keitz35l45 1,637,406 8/1927 Brumder. 2,663,021 12/1953 Douglass 214.6

FOREIGN PATENTS 206,311 11/1923 Great Britain. 208,028 12/ 1923 GreatBritain.

ISAAC LISANN, Primary Examiner.

4. A GOLFING AID TO BE WORN BY A GOLFER TO ASSIST IN KEEPING THE HEADMOTIONLESS DURING THE SWING COMPRISING A PAIR OF CLIP-ON SUNGLASSESHAVING A PAIR OF LENSES FOR USE WITH PRESCRIPTION SPECTACLES WORN BYSAID GOLFER, ADJUSTING MEANS FOR ADJUSTING SAID SUNGLASSES VERTICALLYWHEN POSITIONED ON SAID SPECTACLES, A TARGET SIGHT ON EACH LENS OF SAIDSUNGLASSES AND MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE POSITION OF SAID SIGHTS WITHRESPECT TO SAID LENSES.